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Consummate survivor, Goose left a true legacy

He survived the Nazi occupation, built thriving real estate and retail businesses, raised a family and helped found a London synagogue.

But for all his achievements, Jerry Goose cherished the simple things up until his death Sunday in his 93rd year.

"He taught me to value the simple things in life, water and bread," said Steve Garrison, his son, and well known London radio personality.

Born in Poland in 1919, Goose survived the Nazi occupation during the Second World War and after his home was bombed, those "simple things" kept him alive, said Garrison.

"Even recently, he enjoyed a good slice of bread with some butter."

The family is best known for owning J. Goose Family Clothing on Dundas St. downtown, which opened in 1961 and which Jerry's wife, Fanny, was the face of for 50 years, before she retired in 2010. In May, they would have been married 67 years.

Jerry Goose didn't stop working until he was diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease about seven years ago and went to live at Chateau Gardens on Adelaide St.

"He was so courageous -- I never saw anyone fight for life as he did," said Michelle Campbell, Garrison's wife.

"He was a survivor, he had such drive. He just put one foot in front of the other and kept going regardless of what happened to him."

She also credited him for helping to found the first Orthodox synagogue in London, Beth Tefilah. "He kept his faith all his life, he was very devout."

Goose is also survived by Marty Goose, a son, who lives in Toronto, and several grandchildren and great grandchildren.

The funeral is today at Or Shalom Synagogue on Huron St., at 1:30 p.m.

Jerry Goose immigrated to Canada, part of the exodus of Europeans following the war, the only surviving member of his family. He first went to Toronto and moved to London soon after. A butcher by trade, he began working at Lopowitch Meat Market on South St., but it was a challenge, said Garrison.

After his family was killed in Poland, Goose lived in the woods and fought the Germans as part of resistance groups. During one battle, "they fired at him. He lost two fingers on his right hand," said Garrison.

"He did everything he could to overcome that."

As Goose was working as a butcher in London, Fanny -- her real name is Fania -- was selling clothes on consignment, going door to door.

They met in Russian-occupied Germany after the war and wed before immigrating here.

"Some of the first English words my mother learned were blue jeans," said Garrison. "She would ask people what they wanted and everyone was saying 'blue jeans.' "

Business for the fashion reseller was good, leading to a change that would alter the family fortunes and that of London's downtown, for the better.

"My mother was doing better and my father was finding it harder and harder to do his job," due to his injury.

That led to Jerry buying a truck and expanding the clothes resale business to Dorchester, Thorndale, the Hamilton Rd. and Nilestown areas. The couple bought a home at 764 York St. and sold clothes in the front and lived in the rest of the house.

They moved to a larger home at 1033 Dundas St., and Fanny ran the store while Jerry was "still out peddling," she added.

Soon, the family began buying "a duplex here, a house there," a lesson learned from their friend Percy Zaifman, founder of what's now Z Group, the real estate development company.

The family still owns a significant amount of real estate, through the business J and F Realty, Garrison said.

"He loved life, he treasured it and hung on as long as he could," Campbell said of Jerry Goose.